Glitter is terrible for the environment. Here's why scientists want you to stop using it.

Most glitter products are made from plastic, which contributes to the growing problem of microplastics in the environment.

Microplastics are consumed by plankton, fish, and birds, and have a detrimental impact. Animals often die because of the build up in their systems.

Some research has also found that PET, the plastic most glitter is made from, can break down and release chemicals that can disrupt human and animal hormones.

As a result, some scientists and campaigners are calling for a total ban on glitter.

Festivals in the UK and some companies have already committed to banning glitter.

You can probably remember the joy when you were allowed to get the glitter out at school. There's a sense of fun and nostalgia about the sparkly stuff that reminds us of being young when we paint our faces with it at festivals and concerts.

But glitter is also terrible for the environment.

Most glitter products are made from plastic, which is a huge problem for marine life. When glitter is washed down the drain, it becomes part of the growing problem of "microplastics," which are consumed by plankton, fish, and birds, and have a detrimental impact.

Some brands and companies have started to take action in the past couple of years. In 2018, 61 British music festivals said they would ban attendees from wearing glitter, and cosmetics brand Lush replaced glitter in bath products with biodegradable substitutes. Some supermarkets like Waitrose and Aldi also committed to removing glitter from their products.

Mica was a potential glitter alternative, which is a natural occurring mineral that shimmers. But it was soon found out that the majority of mica came from illegal Indian mines that were using child labor. As a result, Lush came up with a synthetic mica, which the company claims is not harmful to the environment.

"We have no idea what long term effects micro-plastic will have on us, our children or the other animals and plants that share our planet," the letter says. "This is a very disturbing thought. Next time you eat something, what will you think?"

It adds that banning these microplastics in the UK would be a step in the right direction, and would send a clear message to other countries that it's a global concern.

"I think we need to do everything we can to stop using any plastics that can pollute the environment," it says. "We need to do this as soon as possible, before it's too late and everything gets contaminated."